Kinglet Calyptura Calyptura cristata Scientific name definitions

The Kinglet Calyptura is among the most enigmatic and poorly understood species of Neotropical birds. A bizarre bird, it resembles a kinglet (Regulus) in size and shape, but its true taxonomic affinities remained unclear for a long time. While a number of specimens were obtained prior to the beginning of the Twentieth Century, it was unrecorded for over a hundred years before its dramatic rediscovery in 1996. Virtually nothing is known of its habits, although it is thought to feed on insects and small fruits. Currently, most of the lowland forest that it prefers has been cleared from within its small range in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its current population size is surely extremely small, and conservation of this unique species is considered a major priority.

7·5–8 cm. Very tiny tyrannid, reminiscent of a kinglet (Regulus) except for conical bill with strongly arched culmen, very short tail. Male has black-bordered large orange-red crown patch, feathers somewhat elongated; bright olive above, rump yellow; wings and tail mostly dusky, tips of greater and median wing coverts with obvious white bars, tertials also tipped white; underparts yellow, olive wash on breast; bare part colors not recorded, bill and legs apparently dark. Female has reduced patch on crown. Juvenile undescribed.

Rio de Janeiro area of SE Brazil; formerly also São Paulo (1 Stopiglia, R., Strakes, L.C. and Raposo, M.A. (2009). Kinglet Calyptura Calyptura cristata (Vieillot, 1818): documented record for the state of São Paulo and taxonomic status of the name Pipra tyrannulus Wagler, 1830. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 129(3): 185–188. Close ).

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Atlantic Forest Lowlands EBA. Only definitely recorded from a few localities in Rio de Janeiro state; there is a specimen labelled “São Paulo” (2 Stopiglia, R., Straker, L.C. and Raposo, M.A. (2009). Kinglet Calyptura Calyptura cristata (Vieillot, 1818): documented record for the state of São Paulo and taxonomic status of the name Pipra tyrannulus Wagler, 18318182 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 129(3): 185-188. Close ), the provenance of which is uncertain (3 Rêgo, M.A., Moreira-Lima, L., Silveira, L.F., Frahnert, S. (2013). On the ornithological collection of Friedrich Sellow in Brazil (1814–1831), with some considerations about the provenance of his specimens. Zootaxa. 3616(5): 478-484. Close ), and unconfirmed sight records from the state (4 Lambert, F. and Kirwan, G.M. (2010). The twice-vanishing 'pardalote': what future for the Kinglet Calyptura? Neotropical Birding. 6: 4-17. Close , 5 Kirwan, G. M., and G. Green (2011). Cotingas and Manakins. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Had not been recorded for over a century, and presumed extinct by many ornithologists, until remarkable rediscovery in Oct 1996: two individuals observed on several occasions during 27th–30th Oct on edge of Serra dos Órgãos National Park, c. 60 km N of city of Rio de Janeiro (6 Pacheco, J.F. and da Fonseca, P.S.M. (2001). The remarkable rediscovery of the Kinglet Calyptura Calyptura cristata. Cotinga. 16: 48-51. Close ). Despite intensive searches at same locality and suitable areas nearby, no further sightings made. Believed to have been not uncommon in 19th century, since over 55 specimens exist in museum collections (last one dated c. 1890) (5 Kirwan, G. M., and G. Green (2011). Cotingas and Manakins. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Deforestation appears to have been the major threat: virtually all forest below 1000 m within the species' range has been destroyed since the 19th century collections, mainly to make way for coffee plantations and, to a lesser extent, for gold and diamond mining. However, 1996 sightings were in second growth (4 Lambert, F. and Kirwan, G.M. (2010). The twice-vanishing 'pardalote': what future for the Kinglet Calyptura? Neotropical Birding. 6: 4-17. Close ). It has been recorded close to Serra dos Órgãos National Park and suitable habitat is to be found within the Reserva Ecologica Guapiaçu. Full protection of remaining lowland forest in the vicinity considered a priority conservation measure. Remaining forests of Rio de Janeiro should also be comprehensively surveyed (5 Kirwan, G. M., and G. Green (2011). Cotingas and Manakins. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). The diminutive size of Kinglet Calyptura makes it very difficult to detect, and it is probably not extinct (4 Lambert, F. and Kirwan, G.M. (2010). The twice-vanishing 'pardalote': what future for the Kinglet Calyptura? Neotropical Birding. 6: 4-17. Close ). Intensive surveys will, it is hoped, result in further observations of this almost unknown cotingid; it should be sought at fruiting plants.